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Definition: bind

(1) To link, join, connect or associate one element with another as in the following examples.

(2) To link subroutines in a program. Applications are often built with the help of many standard routines or object classes from a library, and large programs may be built as several program modules. Binding puts the pieces together. Symbolic tags are used by the programmer in the program to interface to the routine. At binding time, the tags are converted into actual memory addresses or disk locations. See linker and bindings.

(3) To link any element, tag, identifier or mnemonic with another so that the two are associated in some manner. For example, key bindings link a physical keyboard key to a numeric code that is generated when pressed. See alias and map.

(4) (BIND) (Berkeley Internet Name Domain) The most widely used DNS server software. The Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) offers a reference implementation of BIND, which is available at www.isc.org. See DNS.

(5) In a communications network, to establish a software connection between one protocol and another. Data flows from the application to the transport protocol to the network protocol to the data link protocol and then onto the network. Binding the protocols creates the internal pathway. See OSI model.

Binding Protocols in Windows

This Windows Network control panel shows bindings for the network and the modem. The NetBEUI and TCP/IP protocols are bound to the Ethernet adapter data link protocol for a LAN connection, and TCP/IP is also bound to the dial up adapter for Internet connection via modem.